Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony Griffin tells Ben Barba to focus
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Broncos coach Anthony Griffin has told star recruit Ben Barba to concentrate on doing his job, and that doesn't include scoring tries. The star fullback had a shocker against the Parramatta Eels and Griffin is expecting a better performance this week.

The infringements were only minor but Gagai’s impact at Newcastle has been major, impressing Queensland selectors with his speed, defence and line-breaking power.

The Knights last year handed Gagai an upgraded deal keeping him at the club until the end of 2015. Hoffman is also off-contract in the same year, but after sorting out his differences with the Broncos, he hopes to reunite with Gagai in the Brisbane backline.

“It would be good to play with Dane again,” Hoffman said as he prepares to take on Gagai at Hunter Stadium.

“I’d like to enjoy playing with him again, we always said we’d love to play (first-grade) with each other.

“His brother Jacob is coming through the under-20s ranks so it would be good if we could get Dane back here — it would be like the old times back in Mackay.”

Newcastle have seen the best of Dane Gagaiunder Wayne Bennett.Source: News Corp Australia

The Knights have been the beneficiaries of Griffin’s decision to tear up Gagai’s Broncos contract.

The 23-year-old has scored 11 tries in 41 games for Newcastle and will chalk up his 50th NRL fixture against the Bulldogs on Saturday week.

Such is Gagai’s form under Wayne Bennett, he received an approach from New Zealand selectors last year, but spurned the offer in his quest to play State of Origin.

Griffin believed he had to jettison Gagai to uphold Brisbane’s cultural standards and Hoffman, himself a Kiwi Test representative, took his axing harder than most.

“Being cousins it was hard to see him go,” Hoffman said. “We even lived together for a while, so it was hard to see him leave.

“But to see what he’s doing at Newcastle now, it’s very special and I’m proud of the way he has carried himself and how he’s progressed.

“Hopefully he can keep playing some consistent footy. We always had great challenges in those backyard footy matches so I’m sure there will be banter and sledging on Friday night.”

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